The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1887-09-22
THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS.
An Advocate Representative Visits
That Famous RegiOn-What the
Country Looks Like and What IN
Going On There.

northern portion of mammoth Dakota
is a country new to the readers of THE
ADVOCATE The I'd Regiment Band
of this city, had occasion to go to Bot
tineau last week to furnish their cele-
brated music for the cavalry encamp-
ment. A representative of this paper
accompanied the party, and can throw
out few pointers relative to the pros
perity, atmospheric condition and gen
eral successful career of the inhabi-
tants of this new embryo country Of
the wild west. From Fargo to Bot
tineau, distance of 27O miles. new
panorama is unrolled to the traveller,
No corn or cattle greet the eye, but the
absence of these necessities is made up
by miles and miles of No. hard
wheat, the pride of North Dakota.
Wheat, nothing but wheat on every
side, looms up in shocks, stacks and
otherwise until the view became mo-
notonous and one longs for other pro-
ductions, And, again, the land lies as
level as a mighty sea, only broken by
the swell of creek in its northward
course. When a town is reached the
first and largest building noticeable is a
huge elevator, which verifies the fact
that wheat is king in that country.
Steam threshers are at work on every
hand, and the grain is hauled to mar
ket by four and six-horse teams. As
far northwest as Devils Lake this
scene is perceptible, but from this point
to Bottineau the land is farmed on a
smaller scale Rugby Junction, be-
tween Devils Lake and Bottineau, is a
typical western town. Here can be
seen only ten buildings-ive of which
are saloons. When the train pulled in
to Rugby cold rain accompanied by
a heavy wind made it miserable for the
South Dakota boys. From this point
to Bottineau the rain beat with relent-
less fury against the car windows, and
arriving there in the night made the
initiation into the country not the most
pleasant in the world.
With the coming of the sun the
next morning a cool wind from the
north prevailed. Not until now was
the vision of Bottineau and the sur
rounding country open to the view of
the visitor. Two miles to the north
the Turtle mountains lowered up,
while east west and south a level
county stretched for miles and miles.
Here and there farm house could be
seen, but otherwise treeless prairie
| reigned. BOttineau is town of 200
| inhabitants, with large elevator, two
good newspapers and no saloons. The
latter feature is remarkable one for Il
1 frontier town, but there are the usual
| number of '.blind pigs" The country
is settled up mostly around Bottineau
with Canadians, half breeds and Skan-
dinavians, who all make good farmers
and citizens.
The band went through the same evo-
lutions that were given at Huron, which
caused the settlers of this northern re-
| gion to look on with admiration. The
| weather at times was too cool for the
boys, and they went around with but
toned-up overcoats and hands thrust i'll
| pockets. Last Wednesday was fair
day for Bottineau county, but person
| wouldn't have known it had he not
been informed. All of the exhibits
were placed in one of the encampment
; tents there was no racing, balloon as
tensions, or shell faklrs to rob the peo-
pie. Most of the people came in from
the country to see the governor, but
Church failed to make his appear
ance and the people went home dissat-
isfied.
Early last Thursday morning the
writer in company with two members
of the band started for a trip through
the Turtle mountains to the Manitoba
line. Ponies and rifles were secured
and the trio took the only road through
the mountains to a point in the British
possessions. This road winds through
valleys, around hills and near hundreds
of sparkling miniature lakes that for
picturesque scenery is unexcelled. A
dash of splendor is exhibited when one
first comes across these little shining
lakes. You will be riding leisurely
| along when right down and away be-
low, one of these sheets of water will be
brought into view, surrounded by beau
tiful trees and covered with mountain
ducks. From one point over seventy
of these lakes can be seen. Miles
! and miles of this mountain road
| is Travelled and not house or clearing
can be seen nothing but huge trees,
hills. valleys and lakes. After travelling
| fifteen miles through this wild country
the road became more and more diff
cult. Trees had fallen across the road
in hundreds of places, and the little
party came near turning back several
times. Presently the road came to an
abrupt stop-it had ended, and before
us stood log cabin surrounded by a
small clearing. Then we knew We
/ were out of the United States. Here
| an old trapper and hunter with his fam
| lily of wife and ten children were
| found, who had been the sole occupants
of these mountains for years. The old
| trapper informed us that bear. moose
and elk could be found if time was CIV
/ on to hunt them. but we didn't have
the time to hunt bear, SO we wended
our way back to camp.
The band started on its homeward
| trip last Friday morning, coming by
the way of Minneapolis, where the boys
| took in the exposition. and silam battie
at the state fair grounds. Over lOo,0o
persons were on the grounds to witness
the battle, in which there were 1000
participants.